Q: We, Israelis, love knowledge and we know you share your knowledge too. How can you share your knowledge with us?
A: Well, first of all, I want to be serious with a great difference between knowledge and wisdom. I have learnt a lot of knowledge so far since I was young. Such a big knowledge made me crazy for a long time. I realized how the knowledge made me crazy after I have practiced Mindfulness-based Vipassanā meditation as taught by the Buddha.
Actually, wisdom has already been with us as soon as we were born but we need to be aware of it and develop it by being aware of everything we are doing and by observing them as they are. Wisdom is closely connected with internal quality but knowledge is closely connected with external materials such as learning things.
To be clear between knowledge and wisdom, here is a good example: we are now just talking about other people, things, affairs happening outside us by emotionally creating ideas, and putting questions forward. We are not observing inside ourselves. Talking about the issues outside us is created by our knowledge that does not help us live practically, peacefully and happily. Silently observing thoughts, emotions, sensations, ideas and opinions inside ourselves is just the task of wisdom that can greatly help us live practically, positively, peacefully and happily.
Therefore, we must understand that it is the task of knowledge when we are talking about other people, things and the issues outside us around the world but it will be the task of wisdom when we are silently observing things inside ourselves. Therefore, I do not like too much talking and talkative people but I love quiet living by softly talking just about the needs of each other just to try to help us.
I’m now 50 and gradually become senior-aged. I want to live my life more quietly just by talking the needs of each other. Talking too much doesn’t help us find a solution. Of course, we must just try to talk about what we really need. I love more quietly living and softly speaking and talking about what we just need.
This is also the way we should live wisely. Believe me this way of living will develop our wisdom stronger. Do not worry about the knowledge because we have learnt much knowledge more than necessary since we were young. Does it make sense for your question.
Q: Well, you are already wise. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.
